editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Although Don Gonyea is a NPR National Political Correspondent based in Washington, D.C., he spends much of his time traveling throughout the United States covering campaigns, elections, and the political climate throughout the country. His reports can be heard on all NPR programs and at NPR.org.During the 2000 presidential campaign, Gonyea chronicled the controversial election and the ensuing legal recount battles in the courts. At the same time George W. Bush moved into the White House in 2001, Gonyea started as NPR's White House Correspondent. He was at the White House on the morning of September 11, 2001, providing live reports following the evacuation of the building.As White House correspondent, Gonyea covered the Bush administration's prosecution of wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq and during the 2004 campaign he traveled with President Bush and Democratic nominee John Kerry. In November 2006, Gonyea co-anchored NPR's coverage of historic elections when Democrats capturedNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Don GonyeaTue, 06 Dec 2016 10:17:02 +0000Don Gonyeahttp://wemu.org
Don GonyeaIn what may be the most unlikely meeting of the presidential transition process so far, former vice president, former Democratic presidential nominee, former senator and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore met with President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.Gore has spent decades warning about the dire consequences of unchecked, man-made climate change, while Trump regularly called climate change "a hoax" during the campaign.Initially, the session was not even expected to include the president-elect. According to the transition spokesman, it was scheduled as a sit-down between Gore and Trump's daughter, Ivanka, who is a member of the official transition team. Ivanka Trump, 35, is also an executive with the Trump Organization and Trump has described her as one of his most trusted advisers.There was no preview of the agenda for the former vice president and the president-elect's daughter.Politico reported last week that Ivanka, who's expected to play some of the social roles typically occupiedAl Gore Meets With Donald And Ivanka Trump In Search For 'Common Ground'http://wemu.org/post/al-gore-meets-donald-and-ivanka-trump-search-common-ground
84405 as http://wemu.orgMon, 05 Dec 2016 21:26:00 +0000Al Gore Meets With Donald And Ivanka Trump In Search For 'Common Ground'Don GonyeaUpdated at 3:18 p.m. ET with McConnell reactionWith an early morning tweet, President-elect Donald Trump revived an issue that hasn't been front and center in American politics for more than a quarter-century.Flag burning.Here's what Trump posted at 6:55 a.m. ET:Trump may have been inspired by protests over the weekend at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., where school administrators took down all flags on campus after an American flag was burned by students.But there's a big catch to Trump's proposal.A 1989 Supreme Court decision, Texas v. Johnson, said burning the flag is a protest protected by the First Amendment. Among those voting with the court majority in that case was the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February, and whom Trump has repeatedly cited as a model for the kind of justice he would appoint to the nation's highest court. Scalia's seat on the bench remains unfilled, after the Republican-controlled Senate refused to hold hearings on President Obama's choice toTrump's Flag-Burning Tweet Brings Back 1980s-Era Controversyhttp://wemu.org/post/trumps-flag-burning-tweet-brings-back-1980s-era-controversy
84180 as http://wemu.orgTue, 29 Nov 2016 16:43:00 +0000Trump's Flag-Burning Tweet Brings Back 1980s-Era ControversyDon GonyeaThe Republican National Committee says its data-driven voter turnout operation — which used lessons learned by studying President Obama's winning campaigns of 2008 and 2012 — was a key to its success up and down the ballot last week.Donald Trump shocked the pollsters and pundits not just by winning but by taking a surprisingly large Electoral College victory. And just as important to the RNC is the fact that the GOP was able to stave off a takeover of the Senate by Democrats, in a year when Republicans had many more incumbents and GOP-held seats to defend.Throughout the campaign, especially during the primaries in the first half of 2016, there were questions about the relationship between the Republican Party and the Trump campaign. But once Trump formally secured the nomination, the RNC and its chairman, Reince Priebus, were all in. Certainly Trump's outsider status, his ability to reach disaffected voters, and his blunt, proudly politically incorrect speeches and Twitter presenceHere's Why The Republican National Committee Says It Won Tuesdayhttp://wemu.org/post/heres-why-republican-national-committee-says-it-won-tuesday
83691 as http://wemu.orgMon, 14 Nov 2016 22:05:00 +0000Here's Why The Republican National Committee Says It Won TuesdayDon GonyeaEvery reporter has their habits and rituals while on the campaign trail chasing candidates and stories.One of mine — and I've been doing it for years — is to build a short playlist of songs to listen to in my rental car that somehow relate to the place I'm in. I made one last year as I crisscrossed Iowa and earlier this year for New Hampshire's primary.Now that we're in the final weeks of this election, NPR's Weekend Edition asked what I'm listening to while on the road now.Call this my "2016 Homestretch Playlist." And because we're no longer hopping from primary state to primary state, these days I include songs to mark some big battleground states, as well as tunes that speak more broadly to the themes of democracy and American elections.Here we go:1. "Vote for Mr. Rhythm" / Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and his Orchestra There are few things more joyful than the voice of Ella Fitzgerald singing in front of a swinging big band.This is from the earliest years of her remarkableLISTEN: Correspondent Don Gonyea's Campaign Homestretch Playlisthttp://wemu.org/post/listen-correspondent-don-gonyeas-campaign-homestretch-playlist
82556 as http://wemu.orgSun, 16 Oct 2016 11:28:00 +0000LISTEN: Correspondent Don Gonyea's Campaign Homestretch PlaylistDon GonyeaIt's a headline you can write every election year:FLORIDA THE BIG BATTLEGROUND IN THIS YEARS' RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSEBut that banner belies significant changes taking place in rapid fashion.In fact, if your image of Florida politics is senior citizens peppering candidates with questions about Social Security and Medicare, it's time for an update. Or a new headline.Perhaps something like this:MILLENNIALS A RISING FORCE IN FLORIDA ELECTIONSSenior citizens – now mostly Baby Boomers – are still a large section of voters in the state. And it remains a popular retirement community for so-called snow birds from up north.But the census bureau figures show that the number of Floridians aged 18-34 now outnumber those over age 65. And those millennials are far more diverse and more liberal – especially on social issues – than their older counterparts. They also have very different expectations from government and from other institutions, including the media.But if millennials are indeed going toFlorida Isn't Just Your Grandma's Battleground State Anymorehttp://wemu.org/post/florida-isnt-just-your-grandmas-battleground-state-anymore
81620 as http://wemu.orgSun, 18 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000Florida Isn't Just Your Grandma's Battleground State AnymoreDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Hillary Clinton Kicks Off 2-Day Campaign Visit To Floridahttp://wemu.org/post/hillary-clinton-kicks-2-day-campaign-visit-florida
80086 as http://wemu.orgMon, 08 Aug 2016 20:37:00 +0000Hillary Clinton Kicks Off 2-Day Campaign Visit To FloridaDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.As Trump Poll Numbers Slip, He Warns Of A Rigged Electionhttp://wemu.org/post/trump-poll-numbers-slip-he-warns-rigged-election
79998 as http://wemu.orgSat, 06 Aug 2016 13:23:00 +0000As Trump Poll Numbers Slip, He Warns Of A Rigged ElectionDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.Detroit Working Class Men Split On Donald Trumphttp://wemu.org/post/detroit-working-class-men-split-donald-trump
78795 as http://wemu.orgSun, 10 Jul 2016 13:13:00 +0000Detroit Working Class Men Split On Donald TrumpDon GonyeaUpdated at 7:40 p.m. ET with Senate votesTo virtually no one's surprise, the Senate failed to advance any of the four gun control proposals — two offered by Democrats, and two by Republicans — that came in response to last week's mass shooting in Orlando, Fla.Here are the results:A proposal sponsored by Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, failed on a vote of 53-47, seven votes short of the 60 needed. It would have increased funding for background checks and changed the language barring people with mental health issues from buying a gun.A measure proposed by Chris Murphy, D-Conn., expanding background checks to the sales of firearms at gun shows and on the Internet failed 44-56, 16 votes short of the 60 needed.A bill by Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to let the Justice Department bar gun sales to anyone who was on the terrorist watch list in the past five years failed on a vote of 47-53, 13 votes short of the 60 needed.A bill offered by John Cornyn, R-Texas,Senate Rejects 4 Gun Proposals Inspired By Orlando Attackhttp://wemu.org/post/here-are-4-gun-proposals-senate-votes-monday-again
77977 as http://wemu.orgMon, 20 Jun 2016 14:44:00 +0000Senate Rejects 4 Gun Proposals Inspired By Orlando AttackDon GonyeaEditor's note: This post contains language and photos some readers may find inappropriate.I've covered presidential campaigns for decades. I've never had to bleep — or drop an asterisk into — a candidate's speech.Until this year.Take this Donald Trump quote from a rally in Virginia:"We're gonna win with the military. We're gonna knock the s*** out of ISIS. We're gonna knock the s*** out of them."That's one of the big lines of a typical Trump speech. Then there was the time he didn't actually drop the F-bomb. He just mouthed it to the camera."We're gonna have businesses that used to be in New Hampshire that are now in Mexico come back to New Hampshire and you can tell them to go ..." he paused to mouth the word, "... themselves."He seems to know his language can pack a punch."I'm not allowed to use any bad words," Trump said at a Pittsburgh rally. "If I had used the A-word, they'd say, 'Ooh, Trump used foul language ... horrible, horrible."That's from the stage at his rallies. Outside,F-Bomb On A T-Shirt: At Trump Rallies, Profanity Comes Onstage And Offhttp://wemu.org/post/f-bomb-t-shirt-trump-rallies-profanity-comes-onstage-and
77903 as http://wemu.orgFri, 17 Jun 2016 22:11:00 +0000F-Bomb On A T-Shirt: At Trump Rallies, Profanity Comes Onstage And OffDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Donald Trump Responds To Mass Shooting In Orlandohttp://wemu.org/post/donald-trump-faces-backlash-over-response-orlando-shooting
77711 as http://wemu.orgMon, 13 Jun 2016 20:44:00 +0000Donald Trump Responds To Mass Shooting In OrlandoDon GonyeaEverywhere you turn in the world of sports, in seemingly every league, in amateur, college and professional ranks, you find athletes carrying the banner of some sort of political protest. But it started with Muhammad Ali.Today, there's LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and their teammates wearing gray hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin.The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose donning a T-shirt that reads "I CAN'T BREATHE" before another game.Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe taking a stand in favor of same-sex marriage.The U.S. Women's Soccer Team — the reigning World Cup Champions — threatening to skip the Olympics, filing a wage discrimination suit and demanding equal pay and the same kind of support the U.S. Men's Team receives.It's football players at Northwestern University trying to start a union and pressing for pay for college athletes beyond the scholarship that covers the cost of their education.And there are members of the St. Louis Rams making a bold statement in solidarity withIn Political Activism, Ali Pulled No Punches — And Paid A Heavy Pricehttp://wemu.org/post/political-activism-ali-pulled-no-punches-and-paid-heavy-price
77582 as http://wemu.orgFri, 10 Jun 2016 14:42:00 +0000In Political Activism, Ali Pulled No Punches — And Paid A Heavy PriceDon GonyeaThe battle between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump for the White House is likely to center on the Rust Belt — the industrial Midwest where trade is a big issue for many voters and where the presumptive Republican nominee is predicting he will be able to cut into the Democratic Party's traditional dominance among members of labor unions.A key part of Trump's pitch on the campaign trail focuses on the trade deals that he says have hurt the U.S., and with the general election contest now taking center stage, that part of his message is resonating with a lot of union workers — even longtime Democrats.You can get a taste of the discussions, debates and even arguments taking place about the choices in this election at the United Steelworkers union hall in Canton, Ohio.At the regular monthly meeting of Local 1123, union officials were talking about the need to mobilize on behalf of candidates who support labor's agenda on trade, the right to organize and pushing for an increase in theStuck Between Clinton And Trump: Rust Belt Union Voters Face A Tough Choicehttp://wemu.org/post/stuck-between-clinton-and-trump-rust-belt-union-voters-face-tough-choice
77553 as http://wemu.orgThu, 09 Jun 2016 21:21:00 +0000Stuck Between Clinton And Trump: Rust Belt Union Voters Face A Tough ChoiceDon GonyeaThis post was updated at 5:30 p.m. EDT. At least $1.9 million of the donations to veterans groups that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reported on Tuesday came in last week, after Trump began responding to intense media scrutiny of his earlier claims about raising in excess of $6 million for veterans. Trump said on Tuesday that his efforts raised a total of $5.6 million.NPR reached out to all 41 of the groups Trump listed as receiving donations. Of those, 31 responded. One group, the Navy SEAL Foundation, said it does not disclose details of its donations. The other 30 confirmed the amounts Trump reported Tuesday, accounting for $4.27 million of the $5.6 million total.The donations came in from a combination of sources, including the Donald J. Trump Foundation, various groups and individuals who cited Trump's efforts along with their donations, and Trump himself.The candidate gave a $1 million check to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation on May 24, asAt Least $1.9 Million In Donations Trump Collected For Vets Was Sent Last Weekhttp://wemu.org/post/questions-over-trumps-donations-veterans-boil-over
77209 as http://wemu.orgTue, 31 May 2016 19:20:00 +0000At Least $1.9 Million In Donations Trump Collected For Vets Was Sent Last WeekDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Donald Trump Raises Funds To Pay Off Christie Campaign Debtshttp://wemu.org/post/donald-trump-helps-raise-funds-chris-christies-campaign-debt
76800 as http://wemu.orgFri, 20 May 2016 09:05:00 +0000Donald Trump Raises Funds To Pay Off Christie Campaign DebtsDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.After Indiana, Trump Puts Primaries Behind Him; Looks Ahead To Novemberhttp://wemu.org/post/after-indiana-trump-puts-primaries-behind-him-looks-ahead-november
76211 as http://wemu.orgThu, 05 May 2016 11:21:00 +0000After Indiana, Trump Puts Primaries Behind Him; Looks Ahead To NovemberDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Ohio Gov. John Kasich Suspends Presidential Campaignhttp://wemu.org/post/ohio-gov-john-kasich-suspends-presidential-campaign
76191 as http://wemu.orgWed, 04 May 2016 21:17:00 +0000Ohio Gov. John Kasich Suspends Presidential CampaignDon GonyeaDonald Trump is the apparent GOP presidential nominee after his two remaining rivals ended their White House bids.Ohio Gov. John Kasich suspended his campaign Wednesday evening in Columbus. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz dropped out of the race Tuesday night after a disappointing loss in Indiana.The rapid moves in the past 24 hours bring to a close a wild GOP primary season that leaves the one-time unlikely candidate as the party's apparent nominee.Trump was widely discounted when he announced his bid on June 16 last year after publicly flirting with a White House run for many years but not following through. The real estate mogul dominated the news cycles and was impervious to ramifications from controversial statements and missteps that would have doomed any other nominee. The GOP electorate, fed up with a Republican Party they felt had too often capitulated to Democratic demands, was angry, and Trump became the vehicle for that anger and desire for an outsider candidate.He now inherits aKasich Drops Out Of Presidential Race; Donald Trump Assured GOP Nominationhttp://wemu.org/post/kasich-dropping-out-presidential-race-donald-trump-assured-gop-nomination
76172 as http://wemu.orgWed, 04 May 2016 16:25:00 +0000Kasich Drops Out Of Presidential Race; Donald Trump Assured GOP NominationDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Donald Trump Wins Republican Primary In Indianahttp://wemu.org/post/donald-trump-wins-republican-primary-indiana
76150 as http://wemu.orgTue, 03 May 2016 23:14:00 +0000Donald Trump Wins Republican Primary In IndianaDon GonyeaCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Is Indiana The Last Fighting Chance For #NeverTrump?http://wemu.org/post/indiana-last-fighting-chance-nevertrump
76005 as http://wemu.orgSat, 30 Apr 2016 11:58:00 +0000Is Indiana The Last Fighting Chance For #NeverTrump?